New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-05

FIGHTING FOR LIFE IN An ICE FLOE.

THE SUCCESSFUL STRUGGLE OF TWO PARTIES IN
JAMAICA BAY.
John Wilson, the young man who with william y.
TillOston was caught in the ice in Jamaica Bay on
Sunday afternoon while trying to cross the bsv from
Rutfie Bar to the SEASIDE House, Rockaway Beach, in
a rowboat was at his desk at Wilson II Roak's boiler
chop ct Front aud Dover yes erday afternoon and
did not appear to DO much troubled by his boating
experience which had caused his family and friends 30
much anxiety. His story OF the adventure was as
f,llows:
"For many years 1t has been my custom to eat my
New Years dinner at Smiths Hotel on Rutle Bar. l
had promised Mr. Smith that | should celebrate my
New Years there. Friday was q bad day Tor hoatng
and PUT o0 my Journey until SATURDAY. morning.
went down to Canars,e early on saturday morn ne anu
at Rutie Bar having no trouble IN making the triP,
Mr.. Tlloston went TO RoekAway Beach and rowed
over to Join me. Well we had an exceedingly pleasant
day of it and We stayed kutfie Bar until about 8
p Sunday AS there was considerahie ice IN inc
bay thought best to leave my salboat at Ruihe Bar
and return wi h Mr.. hllOstJn IN his row boat we
made good progress until were just oil the pier Of
the big Rockaway Hotel where we could have landed
easily nut the row boat belonged at the Seaside House.
90 we pushed on tor that point.
q When we were nearly there the tide began to ebb
This broke up the ice which began to I'LL up the open
channei and we were caught in il. We worked hard
tor an hour and a half trying to eytricatc ourselves
ana reach the Seaside House handbag but without
avail The ice was not strong enough to permit our
strong for rowing aganst the tide and we found our
selves drifting out 10 In spite OF the hard work
We were dong The cold intense that we're be-
coming numbed. and 1t really seemed that We were
doomed to tre~ze to death in the boat Finally we saw
. chance to get out OF tue foes by working toward
Scbmelk's Island We succeeded in strandinR our
boat ON the meadows at one end OF It. We got out
ami warmed ourselves by running abont the meadow
then got in our boat again. and by keeping II IN
ha,lOw poled along until We came to that part
Of the island where knew an Oys.er shanty was
situated There is a Waterman at eacn Of these
shanlies to watch the oyster beds. The one ut this
place did the best he could He gave US cofee and
something to eat.
"Whi'e We were battling with the ice foes we
noticed another party Of three in the same Fix. we
were much concerned about them as Il ey appeared
to be inc pcrienced. Ii too dark 10 look them up
hen we first landed. but the first thing we did In the
morning was to start out 10 what had become OF
n row boat with two sitting upright in il. We
tried hard reach the boat bnt although we conld not
We got close enough 10 il to see that 1t was not
occupied.
.0D Monday afternoon Herman Schmelk. owner OF
Schmeks Island, came over IRON Rockawar Beach
with what is called sneak boat. He broke through
the ice many in getting to us. sent kilograms
bv him TO my friend, aud relatives and decided TO
stay he island until yesterday morning Mr. Scnmeik
ihen came over again. Mr. Tilio-tOn aud crossed TO
Rockawav Beach without much trouble. Then se
took train for the city. The other party Who we're
caught N the ice at the same time bad also been
rescued and returned TO Brooklyn bs the same train.